Bren Mar Park Master Plan Revision

Park Authority Board Approves the Bren Mar Park
Master Plan Revision

On February 27, 2013, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board approved
the master
plan revision for Bren Mar Park. The master plan will
serve to guide future development of the site by identifying uses which
are appropriate for this park. Initiated in the spring of 2011,
the Bren Mar Park Master Plan was revised through an iterative process
guided by a multi-disciplinary master plan team with input from the
community. The plan was also established with coordination
from Park Authority Board members and Supervisor Penny Gross.

The Park Site

Bren Mar Park, located at 6324 Edsall Rd, Alexandria, includes
approximately 26 acres of land in the Bren Mar area of the Mason
Supervisory District. The existing park contains a playground, parking
area, a small picnic shelter and several natural surface trails and an
unscheduled youth baseball diamond. Park access is from Edsall
Road. The revised master plan allows for the baseball diamond to
be repurposed as an off-leash dog area.

The Park Planning Process

The master planning process for the revision of the Bren Mar Park
master plan focused on establishing a balance between providing
expanded recreation opportunities in context with the surrounding
neighborhoods. The process also responded to an community offer to
sponsor an off leash dog area in the park. The overall master
plan process is designed to take into account community preferences,
area facility needs and site related issues such as transportation
needs, public access, site assets and physical constraints.

Public input is a key component of the master plan process. Two
public meetings were held during the course of developing the master
plan for Banks Park with public comment accepted throughout the process
until November 22, 2012. Public input and community park and
recreation needs were fully evaluated in the master plan
development. The Park Authority appreciates all who took the time
to participate in the process and to share their vision for Bren Mar
Park. As a result, many of the community’s opinions and
preferences are reflected in the final approved plan.

The Future Park

Although the master plan is approved for Bren Mar Park, no funding is
currently identified for the further development of this park.
Site design, engineering, construction timing, and funding, are
determined by the Park Authority Board through adoption of a Park
Capital Improvement Program and voter approval of Park Bond
Referendums. In some cases, alternative funding sources may become
available to provide park improvements. For instance, off leash
dog areas in County parks require a community sponsor for facility
installation and operation support. Approval of the master plan
revision, however, is a critical step in allowing the Park Authority to
identify funding sources appropriate to the future development of Bren
Mar Park.